Napoleonic Newsdesk

Norman Cross Eagle

by Paul Chamberlain

For some years now I have been involved with a project to restore the monument that existed at Norman Cross, near Peterborough, to the memory of the 1,770 prisoners of war who died in the Prison Depot at that site. In 1914 an impressive memorial, consisting of a bronze eagle atop a stone column, was erected by the Entente Cordial Society. This memorial was vandalised in October 1990 and the eagle stolen.

In 1991 an international appeal was set up to raise funds for the replacement of the bronze eagle, and the restoration of the column. This project has been steadily gathering funds and has included involvement from the Napoleonic Association; Peterborough Museum; The Friends of the Peterborough Museum; Public Monuments and Sculpture Association; Royal Society of British Sculptors; Lc Souvenir Francais; Napoleonic Society of America; The International Napoleonic Society; Peterborough Anglo-French Association; and Greenwoods Solicitors, Peterborough. The Appeal has certainly caught the imagination of many with either an interest in Napoleonic history, the history of Peterborough and the surrounding area, or those whose interest is the restoration of a memorial to French war dead.

The Norman Cross Eagle Appeal has been honoured by His Grace the Duke of Wellington and Lady Lucinda Lambton becoming Patrons of the Appeal.

The restoration of the memorial has been delayed by the expansion of the A1M through the area. Until this work was nearing completion, it was impossible to locate a suitable site for the monument. However, last year a site was found near to the Forte Posthouse Hotel (on the A15 Yaxley-Stifton Road) where the stone column could be re-erected. Presently the Appeal does not have enough funds to recast the bronze eagle, but it was felt that the re-siting of the column together with the addition of an interpretation panel alongside it, would not only be a step nearer the completion of the project, but could be an event that would boost publicity for the Appeal and hence attract further funding.

The resiting of the column was given a very welcome boost by RMG Construction (the A I road consortium), who agreed to prepare the basework, resite the column, and provided funds for the interpretation panel to be crected alongside. The original site of the memorial had been covered by the expanded A1M. The new site is much nearer to the actual prison depot.

The column and panel were officially unveiled on a very wet Saturday 31 October 1998. The new A1M had been officially opened that morning, and our ceremony took place during the afternoon, beginning in the Forte Posthouse Hotel, who very kindly provided the venue and refreshments for the occasion.

The 9th Foot and 30eme de Ligne lead the procession to the monument. © Norman Cross Appeal

The ceremony was begun by a contingent of the 9th Foot and 30eme de Ligne of the Napoleonic Association marching into a very packed conference room. These units provided an appropriate period presence, as the Prison Depot at Norman Cross was home to many thousands of French and Dutch prisoners from 1797 until 1814, guarded by units of British Militia.

When the guards and then prisoners were lined up at the back of the room, Peter Lee, Chairman of the Appeal Committee, gave a short speech of welcome. This was followed by myself giving a very brief history of the depot, and then Father Jacques Coupet (Le Souvenir Francais) spoke on the importance of the monument as a memorial. The guest of honour, Sir Brian Mawhinney, gave his presentation before moving outside to the column itself. Sir Brian was Transport Secretary during the last Conservative Government, and is Member of Parliament for the area. When in office he was often contacted regarding the monument after it had been vandalised, and he was involved in the opening of the A1M that morning.

After the speeches, the guests and audience were escorted to the column by the 9th Foot, guarding a party of the 30eme de Ligne. The soldiers were paraded around the column, where the interpretation panel was unveiled by Sir Brian, with the local press and television there to record the event (see at right).

Having been involved with this Appeal from the start, I was pleased and proud to see an important stage in the restoration of the monument actually taking place. Not only is it an important step in raising funds for the ultimate goal of restoring the bronze eagle on top of the column, but it has also given all members of the Appeal Committee the satisfaction of seeing their hard work actually achieving something tangible. It will not be long before the project is completed with a new eagle cast.

While the Appeal Committee has been involved in the day to day activities involved in raising funds and promoting the project, and seeing the stone column erected; it should be noted that this project has involved many people, and will continue to do so. Many have donated funds to the Appeal, and it is pleasing to see that many Napoleonic Association members have generously given money. Magazines such as First Empire have helped by publishing details of the Appeal. The ceremony described above was aided considerably by the presence of some of the Association's reenactors. The efforts ofall these people are much appreciated.

So what happens next?

The Appeal target has been set at £ 30,000. The Appeal Committee will soon attain Charitable Trust status, which will enable us to apply to local and national bodies for funds. Having such Charitable Trust status is impoitant, but it is just as important that we are seen to have already raised funds from as many sources as possible. Those members who have made donations, no matter what the amount, have been instrumental in giving the Appeal not only financial backing, but also credibility as a fund-raising project.

Thank you to all who have helped in this way.

However, we still need donations from you. Charitable Trust status will eventually produce funds, but these funds have to be applied for, and a case made to each body we are approaching. This will take time. Your donation will help to speed up the process of obtaining the money we need to have the bronze eagle cast. If you wish to help in this way, please send your donation (payable to The Norman Cross Eagle Appeal) to: